Shock absorber



W. E. SNAMAN.

- SHOCK ABSORBER.

A PLICATION FILED AUG13,I92l- 1 A24, 8 8 Patented Aug; 8, 19222 1 InwmwR SHOCK ABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 8, 1922.

Application filed August 13, 1921. Serial No. 491,939.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. SNAMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock Absorbers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shock absorbers for motor vehicles for neutralizing or minimizing the effects of shocks and jars thereto, and resist the throw of the car body under the influence of road inequalities.

Objects of the invention are to provide a shock absorber of the character described, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, which will operate to resist abnormal throw of the car body, under adverse road conditions, without liability of breaking the springs or racking the car, and which permits of lateral movement of the car body without cramping or binding the working parts of the absorbing device.

Further objects of the device are to provide a shock absorber of the class stated which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and efficient in its use, readily installed, attractive in appearance, positive in its action, and com paratively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of these and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing forming a portion of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shock absorber, in accordance with this invention, attached to a vehicle, portions of the latter being broken away.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing a modified form of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 de notes the body of the vehicle including the frame 2 provided with the spring 3 of the usual construction. Securely attached to the frame 2, by means of the bolts 4:, is a depending member 5 provided at each end with a reaiuvardly extending fixed bolt 6.

Shiftably supported by the bolts 6 is a member 7, the rear face of which is engaged by a coil spring 8 mounted on each of the bolts 6. A thumb nut 9 is provided for each of the bolts 6 for tensionally adjusting the springs 8 against the member 7, thereby regulating the shifting movement of the latter during the operation of the device.

As shown in the drawing, the members 5 and 7 are curved in reverse directions relative to each other, thereby creating a distance between the central portion of the members which gradually diminishes towards the ends thereof.

The members 5 and 7 are disposed on opposite sides of the axle 10, the former forward of the-axle and the latter at the rear of the axle. The axle 10 being interposed between the members 5 and 7, a sleeve 11, mounted on the axle, is provided to care for the frictional wear concomitant to the operation of the device, which otherwise would be against the axle.

The inner faces of the members 5 and 7, throughout their lengths, are preferably provided with a suitable replaceable lining 12 to prevent wear of the members during the operation of the device and to augment the frictional action thereof.

The downward jolt of the vehicle body will be absorbed by the action of the members 5 and 7 in conjunction with the operation of the spring 8 at the upper end of the absorber. The recoil or rebound of the vehicle body will, likewise, be dissipated by the action of the members in connection with the spring at the lower end of the device.

The modification of the device shown in Figure 2 is identical in operation as that described relative to Figure 1. However, instead of positioning the members 13 and 1% on opposite sides of the axle of the vehicle, a special friction member 15 is pro vided which is carried by the axle of the vehicle.

"What I claim is 1. A shock absorber comprising a pair of spaced retarding elements adapted to depend from the body of a vehicle, the space between said elements radually decreasing from the center towards each end, one of said elements being spring controlled and shiftable with respect to the other, and

shifted from "and towards the other, and

means capable of contacting with said elements above and below thecenter thereof whereby said elements are utilized to retard the vertical movement of the vehicle body to absorb shock when the vehicle is travelling over an uneven road surface.

3. A shock absorber comprising a pairof opposed and vertically extending'and oppo sitely disposed arcuate shaped elements, one of said elements arranged below and adapted to be connected to a vehicle,'the other of said elements being spring controlled, supported from the first mentioned element and from each other and the space 'therebetween gradually decreasing from the center towards each end, and means capable of contacting with said elements above and below the center thereof whereby said elements are utilized to retard the vertical movement of the vehicle body to absorb shock when travelling over an uneven road surface.

4. A shock absorber comprising a pair-of depending'elements adapted to bevcarried by a vehicle body, said elements spaced from each other, the space between the elements gradually decreasing-from the center towards each end, one of said elementsbeing shiftable relatively to the other, and means interposed between said elements and adapted to contact with the latter when shifting towards either end thereof to retard the vertical movement of the vehicle body when the vehicle'is travelling over an'uneven -road surface.

'In testimony, whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM ns AMAN. 

